Job Description

Company Description

FRD Designers & Makers are a bespoke lighting and furniture manufacturer working with leading interior designers, architects, and high-profile clients across the international luxury interiors industry. The business delivers design-led, low-volume, high-quality products through an in-house workshop and specialist supply chain.

Role Description

FRD are seeking a Head of Operations to take ownership of the day-to-day operational performance of the business, ensuring that projects flow smoothly from enquiry through design, production, QC, and delivery.

This role sits at the centre of the business, providing structure, prioritisation, and delivery discipline across design, production, purchasing, and project management. The Head of Operations is responsible for balancing capacity, quality, cost, and delivery while protecting the workshop from unrealistic commitments and maintaining client confidence.

The role is hands-on and operational, requiring strong judgement, calm leadership, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced bespoke manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Flow Control

Own the end-to-end operational workflow from enquiry to dispatch Define and manage release gates from enquiry to design and design to production Ensure work is accepted and scheduled in line with available capacity Act as the central point of prioritisation across departments

Production & Capacity Management

Develop and maintain realistic production schedules Forecast design and production capacity and identify upcoming constraints Balance workload to avoid peaks, bottlenecks, and reactive firefighting

Project & Delivery Oversight

Provide delivery oversight across all live projects Support project managers in programme development and issue resolution Intervene on at-risk projects to stabilise delivery and protect client relationships Ensure QC events are properly prepared and readiness confirmed

Commercial & Performance Control

Monitor labour performance and identify variance against estimates Support pricing, quoting assumptions, and delivery commitments Align operational output with revenue expectations without destabilising delivery Identify inefficiencies and drive continuous improvement

Stakeholder & Client Support

Support senior client-facing relationship management Act as an escalation point for operational issues Maintain clear, honest communication internally and externally

Skills & Experience

Proven experience in operations, project delivery, or manufacturing leadership Strong understanding of bespoke or low-volume manufacturing environments Ability to balance competing priorities across design, production, and delivery Strong planning, organisational, and decision-making skills Confident communicator at all levels
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From 35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

On-site parking
Work Location: In person